]]>Saumil Shah Saumil Shah 2019 BMW 330i video review2461402461401Wed, 11 Sep 2019 14:50:00 +1000414026Saumil Shah Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000You have seen our review of the diesel version, but now it's time for the power-packed petrol version of the new BMW 3-series - the 330i M Sport. We drive it on the perfect playground, a race track to find out how good the petrol-powered 3 is.You have seen our review of the diesel version, but now it's time for the power-packed petrol version of the new BMW 3-series - the 330i M Sport. We drive it on the perfect playground, a race track to find out how good the petrol-powered 3 is.Wed, 11 Sep 2019 14:50:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/car-reviews/2019-bmw-330i-video-review-414026#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Luxury+Saloons+feed414026Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS concept EV unveiled

Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off a new four-door, all-electric concept, dubbed the Vision EQS, at the ongoing Frankfurt motor show. It provides a foretaste of what the carmaker claims will be its most advanced production model when it sees its market debut in 2021. The luxury sedan is slated to be launched as a direct rival to the next-generation pure-electric Jaguar XJ, as well as the Tesla Model S and Audi e-tron GT.

The EQS is set to act as a high-tech figurehead for an extended range of models from Mercedes-Benz’s newly created EQ electric car sub-brand. It follows the EQC, EQA and EQB as Mercedes-Benz’s fourth all-electric model, but is the first to feature a dedicated steel, aluminium and carbon-fibre platform, dubbed MEA (Modular Electric Architecture) internally. The EQS also forms the basis of an even more luxurious Maybach model that is intended to take on an upcoming EV being developed by Rolls-Royce.

Mercedes-Benz chairman Ola Källenius said, “By 2022, we will have launched a total of more than 10 purely electrically driven vehicles. Over and above this, we shall electrify the entire Mercedes-Benz portfolio and thus offer our customers at least one electrified alternative in every Mercedes-Benz model series – over 50 in all.”

Powered by two electric motors spread across both axles for four-wheel drive, the Vision EQS has a combined output of around 477hp and 759Nm of torque. This is sufficient to allow the car to accelerate from standstill to 100kph in a claimed 4.5sec and reach a top speed of more than 200kph.

The MEA platform is said to be capable of containing a battery pack of up to 100kWh in size. The lithium-ion battery from Mercedes-Benz's sibling company, Accumotive, is claimed to provide the sedan with a range of over 700km, which is 254km more than the EQC. Mercedes-Benz has developed the EQS to support 350kW charging and claims that the battery can be charged to 80 percent in just 20min.

The new electric platform enables the Vision EQS to have different proportions from a traditional sedan’s – the bonnet is shorter, the windscreen is set well forward, and the rear end is quite low by today’s standards. The roofline, meanwhile, is similar in shape to that gracing the third-generation CLS.

With the battery housed completely within the floorpan of the MEA platform, it is said to have an exceptionally low centre of gravity, as well as advanced air suspension, featuring active body control and anti-lean to boost the car’s dynamic appeal.

Stylistically, the Vision EQS follows the lead of the EQC with an exterior that has fuller forms and smoother surfacing than those of current combustion-engined models. To inject it with some extra visual pizzazz, the new concept receives a two-tone paint scheme as well as an LED light band along the shoulder of each side.

In place of a traditional chrome grille, the EQS, receives a seamless black panel grille, complete with an illuminated three-pointed star emblem, containing more than 188 individual LEDs.

Flanking the black panel grille are Mercedes-Benz’s Digital Light headlights – each featuring two holographic lens modules that enable it to project signals onto the road to improve safety for pedestrians.

The rear end of the car is dominated by a further light band made up of 229 individual illuminated three-pointed stars. All up, the new Mercedes-Benz concept has some 940 individual LEDs.

The EQS also features a newly styled cabin inspired by luxury yachts. The flowing forms of the dashboard are said to mirror the look already chosen for the production version of the new luxury sedan. Also on board is a future iteration of the firm’s latest MBUX operating system, which works in combination with a large digital panel housing the instruments and infotainment functions.

Apart from revealing the design ideas set to be incorporated in its production sibling, the concept’s interior also showcases several recyclable materials being considered for use in future Mercedes-Benz models. These include composite materials made from recycled PET bottles and plastic ocean waste, as well as a faux-leather material that is claimed to closely resemble the properties of nappa leather.

]]>Nikhil Bhatia Nikhil Bhatia 2019 BMW 3 Series India video review2461402461401Thu, 22 Aug 2019 11:05:00 +1000413862Nikhil Bhatia Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000Despite new rivals entering the fray, the BMW 3 series has always been a favourite for those who love to drive. But now this all-new G20 version has been launched in India and it really dials things up in the luxury department. Does it have what it takes to be a winner? We drive it to find out.Despite new rivals entering the fray, the BMW 3 series has always been a favourite for those who love to drive. But now this all-new G20 version has been launched in India and it really dials things up in the luxury department. Does it have what it takes to be a winner? We drive it to find out.Thu, 22 Aug 2019 11:05:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/car-reviews/2019-bmw-3-series-india-video-review-413862#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Luxury+Saloons+feed413862Planning to buy a new Jaguar XE
I am planning to buy the Jaguar XE petrol. What are its pros and cons? Is it worth it or are there better options in this segment?Anush, Coimbatore

AAA The Jaguar XE petrol is a great driver’s car. It has superb handling, a punchy engine and rides quite well too. So if you like to drive, this is one of the best driver’s cars in its class. The downsides are its rather ordinary interiors and not so great legroom at the rear.

]]>Staff Writer Staff Writer Planning to buy a new Jaguar XE2461402461401Mon, 19 Aug 2019 12:35:00 +1000413081Staff Writer Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000I am looking to buy a new Jaguar XE sedan, are there any better options in the category?I am looking to buy a new Jaguar XE sedan, are there any better options in the category?Mon, 19 Aug 2019 12:35:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/auto-features/planning-to-buy-a-new-jaguar-xe-413081#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Luxury+Saloons+feed413081Sponsored Feature: This season, dreams do come true with #MBWishboxYou know the feeling. You’re walking or driving along, and it catches your eye. Sunlight bouncing off the chrome grille, the lustre of its paint, sharp lines, an elegant but athletic silhouette – a Mercedes-Benz rolls silently by. Without even meaning to, your head turns to follow it. And then a thought crosses your mind: “Someday…”.

Well, that day is closer than you think. To help you make your wish come true, Mercedes-Benz India has launched ‘Wishbox’. It is a first-of-its-kind solution that allows you to own a Mercedes-Benz with no financial hassles. What this means is that the cost of buying and owning a Mercedes-Benz is significantly lower than you think it is.

What’s in the Wishbox?

Wishbox is a combination of smart innovative ownership solutions that empower you with intelligent options to let you drive home your dream Mercedes-Benz.

Key-to-key Change: This unique offering allows you to own two Mercedes-Benz cars in four years at no extra cost. This means that you’ll always be driving the latest version of the Mercedes-Benz models.

25-25-25-25: If you’re worried about the down payment of the car and the immediate start of EMIs, this is the solution for you. This unique scheme allows you to make a down payment of 25 percent of the value of the car and then pay the rest of the amount in three annual payments of 25 percent each.

Zero Down Payment: We usually believe that buying a Mercedes-Benz will involve a high down payment and high monthly EMIs for the next three years. Under the Wishbox solution, though, you only pay the road tax and enjoy the drive with low-interest EMIs for 60 months.

As India’s largest luxury car manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz India always wants to offer innovative solutions to make buying and owning any Mercedes-Benz an exciting experience. Mr Martin Schwenk, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India Limited, said, “At Mercedes-Benz, we understand the pulse of the Indian customers, and it remains our relentless endeavour to introduce customised mobility solutions that excite them. We are introducing some industry-first mobility solutions with the aim of bringing back the much-needed customer confidence by offering them financial flexibility related to their car purchase.”

It’s an exciting time for those who want a new Mercedes-Benz. Great cars, innovative financial schemes, reliable aftersales support and 94 outlets in 47 Indian cities, driving home a Mercedes-Benz is more convenient than ever.

AAA The Superb stands out as the car that offers you the most value for money. It is spacious, well-equipped and comes with strong engines that makes it great to drive. However, it doesn’t have the snob value of a Mercedes or Audi. So, if you want a luxury car brand, then we would choose the Audi A3 over the Mercedes CLA, as it is better engineered, has a better ride and is more practical too. The CLA looks stunning and that is why many people buy it. As a product, however, it falls short in several areas and the ground clearance isn’t great either. However, if you are not fussed about the brand, then the Superb is overall the best choice.

]]>Gavin D'Souza Gavin D'Souza 2019 Mercedes-Benz E 220d BS6 video review2461402461401Fri, 12 Jul 2019 18:30:00 +1000413377Gavin D'Souza Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000The 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-class joins other cars in the model range by being BS-VI compliant. And to sweeten the deal, Mercedes has added a new top variant called Exclusive, which adds some much sought-after equipment. But the price has gone up too. Is it a better deal now? We spend a day with it to find out. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-class joins other cars in the model range by being BS-VI compliant. And to sweeten the deal, Mercedes has added a new top variant called Exclusive, which adds some much sought-after equipment. But the price has gone up too. Is it a better deal now? We spend a day with it to find out. Fri, 12 Jul 2019 18:30:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/car-reviews/2019-mercedes-benz-e-220d-bs6-video-review-413377#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Luxury+Saloons+feed413377Sponsored feature: Mercedes Of Service: Driving Aftersales Excellence

Mercedes-Benz has been making cars for well over a century. Its dealerships have also been servicing them across the world for as long. But if you think like Mercedes-Benz does, you’ll reckon there is always room for improvement – even if you’re a manufacturer that makes cars that everyone wants to drive or be seen in. That is how Mercedes-Benz India rolled out its Service Clinics.

The Service Clinics have a simple premise: Let’s get the company’s technical experts to meet their customers, and have a chat with them about their cars. The initiative is part of ‘My Mercedes. My Service.’ and has seen a tremendous response. The idea was to create a platform for customers and technical experts from the company to interact with each other, get a walk-through of their car’s service history and get to know more about their Mercedes-Benz. Last year, over 15 such clinics were held by Mercedes-Benz. This year, it is aiming for 25 clinics to mark its silver jubilee in India. The Service Clinic initiative is just one element in Mercedes-Benz’s holistic aftersales and service plan and each aspect of it is as well-thought-out as the interiors of its cars. Let’s get to know these aspects better.

Premier Express Service lets customers relax, even as their car gets ready in just 140min.

Premier Express Service: Mercedes-Benz knows the value of time, and how important it is for its customers. That’s where Premier Express Service comes in. Should you be pressed for time, all you’ve got to do is sign up for the service and let the manufacturer’s skilled technicians work on your car and return it to your doorstep in less time than it takes to have a good lunch. This service is available at 16 Mercedes-Benz dealerships across the country.

Car detailing solutions: A Mercedes-Benz car is always a cherished experience, and not surprisingly, owners go to great lengths to keep their own running like a dream and looking like one. Mercedes-Benz also does its bit by offering a variety of car detailing solutions, from engine- and underfloor-preservation treatments to interior and exterior polishing treatments. Each of these treatments are handled by technicians who have enormous experience in high-end vehicle detailing. Besides keeping your car looking like new, Mercedes-Benz’s car detailing products are also environmentally sound and enduring.

Mercedes-Benz Approved Tyres and Alloys: The importance of shodding your Mercedes-Benz with the right set of tyres cannot be overemphasised. The manufacturer’s dealerships across the country are equipped with skilled personnel who help customers choose the right tyres for their Mercedes-Benz; and ensure that everything from tyre fitment to alignment is spot on. The same goes for its range of light-alloy wheels, which, besides enhancing the looks of your Mercedes, are highly resistant to corrosion, thanks to a multi-layer paint finish.

Mercedes-Benz has a range of approved tyres and light-alloy wheels.

Service- on-Wheels: In 2018, Mercedes-Benz showed the way forward for aftersales service in India with another first – their Service-on-Wheels initiative. Part of the company’s ‘Go to Customer’ philosophy, Service-on-Wheels is simple and effective, and available in Tier-II and Tier-III markets, where Mercedes-Benz service does not have a direct presence yet. Besides being equipped with a comprehensive range of parts and diagnostic tools – as well as special equipment such as a Mobile Lifting Platform – the Service-on-Wheels trucks also have a plush customer lounge. The trucks are equipped with Mercedes-Benz’s ‘Digital Service Drive’ capabilities as well.

The Service-on-Wheels is yet another arrow in Mercedes-Benz’s aftersales service quiver and makes accessing the company’s service a hassle-free affair. All of it, of course, comes under the umbrella of ‘My Mercedes. My Service’. The overarching initiative, which harnesses technology to put information and convenience at the customer’s fingertips and achieves optimum use of skilled manpower, is possibly the benchmark among aftersales initiatives from luxury manufacturers in the country.

ADAM: SKILLING INDIA TO TAKE ON UPCOMING CHALLENGES

Even as it continuously raises the standards of aftersales service in the country, Mercedes-Benz India, which supports the government’s ‘Skill India’ initiative through a public-private partnership model, is also invested in creating a workforce equipped not just for contemporary challenges but also for the future. Mercedes-Benz’s Advance Diploma in Automotive Mechatronics (ADAM) is a much sought-after course among students across the country. It is currently available at nine institutes in India. 900 students have signed up for ADAM, till date.

According to separate reports published by German websites Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt, the German transport ministry has identified up to four different emission defeat devices in the software code used by Audi’s V6 diesel engine.

The various defeat devices claim to have been developed by Audi. It provides models fitted with its turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel engine with lower emission readings during government-mandated tests on rolling roads under controlled conditions than actual results on public roads.

The German transport ministry issued Audi with a forced recall of various models fitted with the aforementioned V6 diesel engine in January 2019. This confirms that up to 2,00,000 vehicles in Germany were suspected of using this illegal software function that the German carmaker labelled as a “Motoraufwärmfunktion,” or the “engine warm-up function.” Representatives of the German transport ministry say that this so-called “Motoraufwärmfunktion” is, in fact, a secret defeat device used to manipulate emission results.

In an addendum to the German transport ministry report obtained by Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt, more information identifies three more defeat devices that were not deemed illegal despite the report suggesting they facilitated functions leading to emission manipulation.

The various defeat devices are listed as A, B, C and D in the report, according to Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt. However, the German transport ministry states only one can be identified as being illegal, which suggests that Audi was free to voluntarily remove the other three functions from its software code as part of the recall announced earlier this year.

Both Bayerischen Rundfunk and Handelsblatt have said that it is apparent from the report that the German transport ministry did not undertake testing leading to the discovery of the defeat devices; but instead, only relied upon information provided by Audi.

]]>Staff Writer Staff Writer Audi V6 diesel has four devices that manipulate emissions readings2461402461401Mon, 1 Jul 2019 14:35:00 +1000413306Staff Writer Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000Along with the engine-warming function which is actually used to manipulate emissions readings, the German transport ministry has identified three other defeat devices used by the carmaker.Along with the engine-warming function which is actually used to manipulate emissions readings, the German transport ministry has identified three other defeat devices used by the carmaker.Mon, 1 Jul 2019 14:35:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/car-news/audi-v6-diesel-has-four-devices-that-manipulate-emissions-readings-413306#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Luxury+Saloons+feed413306